System and method for assisting flow of a fluid in a vascular system of a mammalian body

Abstract

System for assisting vascular fluid flow body comprising: Fluid pump having an inlet for fluid in the vascular system to enter and an outlet for discharging pumped fluid into the vascular system at a fluid pump outlet pressure. Occluder placed into the vascular system at a location downstream of the outlet of the fluid pump. Occluder having a configuration in which the occluder occludes the vascular system and a configuration in which pumped is capable of flowing past the occluder. In use, the occluder being actuatable to alternate between the occluded configuration, in which pumped fluid accumulates in the vascular system becoming increasingly under pressure via elastic deformation of vessels, and the flow configuration, in which accumulated pumped fluid under pressure flows past the occluder at a greater pressure than the fluid pump outlet pressure, returning the elastically deformed vessels towards their original state.

1 - 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . An assist system for assisting blood flow in a vascular system, the assist system comprising:
 an implantable pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, each of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet configured for being in fluid communication with the vascular system;   an occluder element configured for being implanted in the vascular system downstream of the fluid outlet of the implantable pump,   the occluder element having an occluded configuration in which the occluder element occludes the vascular system so that blood flowing downstream in the vascular system from the fluid outlet of the implantable pump toward the occluder element is at least partially blocked from flowing further downstream past the occluder element, and   the occluder element having a flow configuration in which blood flowing downstream in the vascular system from the fluid outlet of the implantable pump toward the occluder element is capable of flowing further downstream past the occluder element; and   an actuator element operatively connected to the occluder element for actuating the occluder element between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration.   
     
     
         93 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the implantable pump, the occluder element, and the actuator element together form a unitary structure. 
     
     
         94 . The assist system according to  claim 93 , wherein the unitary structure is an implantable unitary structure in which the actuator element comprises an end portion configured for connecting to an extracorporeal controller for actuating the occluder element between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration. 
     
     
         95 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the implantable pump is an intravascular pump. 
     
     
         96 . The assist system according to  claim 95 , wherein the intravascular pump comprises an anchor configured for anchoring the intravascular pump within the vascular system. 
     
     
         97 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the occluder element comprises a cage configured for anchoring the assist system within the vascular system. 
     
     
         98 . The assist system according to  claim 97 , wherein the cage is overcomeably biased toward the occluded configuration. 
     
     
         99 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the occluder element comprises a cage and an occlusion film connected to the cage, and the actuator element comprises a control wire operatively connected to the cage for actuating the occluder element between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration. 
     
     
         100 . The assist system according to  claim 99 , wherein the occlusion film is connected to a proximal end portion of the cage. 
     
     
         101 . The assist system according to  claim 99 , wherein the occlusion film is connected to a distal end portion of the cage. 
     
     
         102 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the occluder element comprises a cage and an occlusion film connected to the cage, the occlusion film forming a valve, and the actuator element comprises a control wire and a valve actuating element connected to the control wire, the valve actuating element configured for actuating the valve between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration. 
     
     
         103 . The assist system according to  claim 102 , wherein the valve is a leaflet valve that is at least partially disposed within the cage. 
     
     
         104 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the occluder element comprises a cage and a butterfly valve pivotably connected to the cage, and the actuator element comprises a control wire operatively connected to the butterfly valve for actuating the butterfly valve between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration. 
     
     
         105 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the occluder element comprises a balloon. 
     
     
         106 . The assist system according to  claim 92 , wherein the occluder element comprises a first occluder operatively connected to the actuator element for actuating the first occluder between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration, and a second occluder operatively connected to the actuator element for actuating the second occluder between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration. 
     
     
         107 . The assist system according to  claim 106 , wherein the first occluder and the second occluder are actuatable in the flow configuration independently. 
     
     
         108 . The assist system according to  claim 106 , wherein the first occluder and the second occluder are actuatable in the flow configuration simultaneously. 
     
     
         109 . The assist system according to  claim 106 , wherein the first occluder and the second occluder are actuatable in the flow configuration sequentially. 
     
     
         110 . The assist system according to  claim 106 , wherein the actuator element comprises a first actuator operatively connected to the first occluder for actuating the first occluder between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration, and a second actuator operatively connected to the second occluder for actuating the second occluder between the occluded configuration and the flow configuration.